A SERIOUS BUGGY ACCIDENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 24

A SERIOUS BUGGY ACCIDENT.

A buggy accident, attended with somewhat serious re=ults, occurred at the Hakataramea on Saturday afternoon. The occupants of the trap were Mr W. O. Smellie, Mr and Mrs J. H. Smellie, Mr and Mrs Peter M'Lean, Mi' W. Blackwood, and the driver (Mr J. Ward). The party, who were on a visit to Kurow, engaged a trap, the property of Mr Munro, and drove up the Hakataramea Valley. On the return Tourney all went well till the descent of the Sandhurst Hill was commenced. Here the horses were startled by two waggons drawn by bullocks, and became restive. The ladies got considerably excited, with the result that the horses became unmanageable. The driver stuck manfully to his reins, but notwithstanding his efforts the vehicle got considerable way on, and shortly after negotiating the last turn the horses wore galloping at a furious rale. Unfortunately for those in the trap, when Hearing the bottom of tho incline the buggy pole broke. This freed the horses, and the trap, minus the horses, ran over a stcop embankment, capsizing the occupants, who fell with considerable force amongst a numbei of loose stones. The horses continued their flight till one of them somehow got the pole between its forelegs and broke ore ot the legs below the kne=>. The other horse managed to free itself and continued to gallop on till stopped by a pedestrian. It appears that Mr M'Leau jumped out of the trap prior to the breaking of the pole, with t!i3 result t-iat he recmed several bruipes on the hend, besides other injuries to his face and hands. __ The other occupants escaped with se\ero bruisos, principally t>bout tibj) head au,di hands. The driver wa*j tluuwn

clear of the trap when the pole broke, anc? escaped with a plight cut o\er his no^p. Mr W. O. Smelhe and Mr M'Lean were con\eyed to the residence of Mr John Orr, while the others were taken to Air Munro's Kurow Hotel. Drs Stevens and Platts deserve every credit for their promptitude in arriving on the soeno of the accident, while Mr Hcsketh, postmaster, is also entitled to credit for assistance he lent in the matter. Grave doubts are entertained for the recovery of Mr M'Lean; but, under the assiduous attention of the doctor?, and with the kindness of the residents, the others, as far as can be ascertained, will make a quick recovery.